Canadian Military Officer to Face Court Martial as Prosecutors Drop Serious Espionage Charges
Matthew Robar, accused of sharing sensitive information with a foreign entity, will face three remaining military charges after prosecutors decided not to proceed with several of the original allegations.
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
November 5, 2026
A Canadian Armed Forces intelligence officer accused of improperly sharing sensitive military information with a foreign entity is set to face a court martial next month, but the case has been significantly narrowed after prosecutors dropped several of the original charges.
Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar, who was initially charged with eight offences under Canada’s National Defence Act, will now face trial on three charges beginning December 9, according to information released by the Office of the Chief Military Judge.
The development means that some of the most serious allegations initially brought against the military intelligence operative, including communicating special operational information to a foreign entity and breach of trust involving safeguarded information, will not proceed to trial.
However, the decision does not bring the case to an end. Robar remains accused of misconduct involving his dealings with a foreign individual, his conduct towards senior officers and the handling of a firearm.
Three charges remain
The charges Robar will face include negligent performance of a military duty, relating to allegations that between September 2024 and February 2025 he maintained an unauthorised relationship with a foreign entity and shared information with that individual.
He is also accused of prejudicing good order and discipline by allegedly misleading his superior officers about the extent of his dealings with the foreign individual.
The third charge concerns the improper storage of a firearm.
The Office of the Chief Military Judge’s announcement did not provide a detailed explanation for the decision not to proceed with the other original charges.
The allegations remain matters for the military justice system to determine, and Robar has not been convicted of the offences.
Alleged links to Ukrainian intelligence
The case attracted considerable attention after reports emerged that the foreign entity involved was connected to Ukraine.
Robar was arrested in December 2025 following a joint investigation involving the Canadian Forces Military Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
At the time, authorities said he was facing allegations connected to the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive government information to a foreign entity. Officials did not initially publicly identify the country involved.
A subsequent CBC News investigation, citing confidential sources, reported that the individual Robar allegedly shared information with was a representative of Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency.
According to the report, Robar had been introduced to the individual through another Canadian official.
The allegations have raised questions about the handling of sensitive intelligence information and the boundaries governing contact between Canadian military personnel and foreign intelligence representatives.
Controversy involving a Canadian defence journalist
The investigation has also been linked to a separate controversy involving Ottawa Citizen defence journalist David Pugliese.
According to CBC’s reporting, Robar’s counter-intelligence work was connected to allegations that Pugliese had been recruited by the Soviet-era KGB in the early 1980s.
Those allegations were publicly raised in October 2024 by former Conservative cabinet minister Chris Alexander during a House of Commons committee hearing. A dossier said to contain material from former KGB archives was also presented.
Pugliese has repeatedly denied the allegations. He has questioned the accuracy of the material presented to Parliament and said he was unaware that a military counter-intelligence investigation was taking place.
CBC reported that nothing in the dossier established that Pugliese had carried out assignments for the KGB or was aware of any alleged Soviet interest in him.
The claims surrounding the journalist remain disputed and should not be treated as established findings.
A significant case for Canada’s military justice system
The case has drawn attention because it involves an intelligence operative accused of sharing information with a foreign entity while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Canada relies on sensitive intelligence-sharing arrangements with allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Allegations involving unauthorised disclosure therefore raise questions about the protection of information entrusted to military personnel.
However, the decision to proceed with three charges rather than the original eight means the court martial will consider a narrower set of allegations than those initially announced.
The trial is scheduled to begin on December 9. Its outcome will determine whether the remaining allegations against Robar are established under Canada’s military justice system.
